Protective Coat

ABSTRACT

A protective covering adapted to protect a wearer from exposure to the environment, the covering comprising a substantially cylindrical portion adapted for covering a torso and opposite sleeves, where the sleeves terminate in gloves, and where the gloves have openings permitting exposure of a wearer&#39;s fingertips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of disposable protective garments.

2. Description of Related Art

This invention relates generally to protective garments and inparticular to a disposable protective coat which can be worn overclothing to protect and individual from elements such as rain, snow andice.

Protective garments are used by physicians and nurses for the purpose ofpreventing the spread of disease in the hospital environment, eitherfrom patient to patient or between medical personnel and their patients.Various protective gowns and the manner of using them are known to theart.

For purposes of the hospital environment, medical personnel typicallydon sterile gloves and masks for the same purposes as the gowns, thus,some gowns are known which combine features of these common hospitalitems, and are described, for example, in Wheeler et al., U.S. Pat. No.4,848,779, in Whitwill, U.S. Pat. No. D348,974, and in Bowling et al,U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,115. In these patents, the gowns are furtherdisclosed as having masks.

The features of such gowns clearly have sterility as the primaryconsideration, with sealed connections between the mask and gown, andthe gown and glove, and materials that are impermeable to penetration byliquids. Particularly with concern over highly infectious diseases, suchas AIDS and hepatitis, such gowns are increasingly desirable.

In other applications, such as the work environment, gowns havedifferent characteristics, and breathable cotton has been a favoredfabric. This is because a worker putting in a long day in such a gownwill require maximum comfort provided by breathable fabric. In Lloyd, etal., U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,236, a disposable apron is disclosed, made ofpaper or other disposable material. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,492,003, toPeckinpaugh, a sanitary workmen's garment is described for preventingcontact of a workmen's body with foodstuff.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,187, to Drake, a protective garment is disclosedcomprising a porous, breathable body with sleeves made of a nonwovensynthetic fabric. The use of skirts of plastic film is shown, toselectively cover parts of the wearer that extend below the main bodyportion.

There are many applications where an individual may wish to use aprotective garment against elements of the environment, without thesevere necessities of providing medical-level of sterility, and yetwhere the fabric choices of a workmen's garment are undesirable

There remains a need, then, for a broadly applicable and easily appliedprotective garment that is inexpensive, disposable, easy to produce anduseful in a broad range of situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a protective coveringis provided that is adapted to protect a wearer from exposure to theenvironment. The covering comprises a substantially cylindrical portionadapted for covering a torso and opposite sleeves, where the sleevesterminate in gloves, and where the gloves have openings permittingexposure of a wearer's fingertips.

In one preferred embodiment of the protective covering, the torsoportion and the sleeves are produced of one piece.

In another preferred embodiment of the protective covering, the glovesand the sleeves are produced of one piece.

In a still other preferred embodiment of the protective covering, thecovering is produced of plastic, such as vinyl, or from latex, orsimilar such materials. In one such embodiment of the protectivecovering, the covering is molded.

In a different preferred embodiment, the protective covering furthercomprises a hood. In one aspect of this embodiment, the hood and thetorso portion are produced of one piece. In another aspect of thisembodiment, the hood further comprises a bill.

In a different preferred embodiment of the protective covering, there isincluded at least one reflective safety strip, which can be applied overthe torso portion, the sleeves, or any portion readily visible to oneapproaching the wearer.

The protective covering may comprise cuffs between the sleeves and thegloves. In a preferred such embodiment of the protective covering, thecuffs are produced of elastic material, which preferably compressesagainst a wearer's wrist, thereby forming a seal.

In a still further preferred embodiment of the protective covering, thetorso portion further comprises adjustment snaps, which may allow theadjustment of the torso portion in length or in circumference.

In a different preferred embodiment of the protective covering, elasticmaterial is supplied in the finger regions of the gloves. In one suchpreferred embodiment of the protective covering, the elastic materialcompresses against a wearer's knuckles, thereby forming a seal.

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the protective covering,reinforcing material is provided in the palms of the gloves.

These and other features and advantages of this invention are describedin, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of variousexemplary embodiments of the apparatus and methods according to thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an individual using the coat while applying chains to anautomobile tire.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the coat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back elevational view of the coat of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an expanded view of the right glove region of the coat of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures, and in particular with regard to FIG. 1, awearer 4, is shown in a position exposing the wearer to adverse elementsof the environment, in this example, performing a task on a tire 6 of anautomobile 8. The wearer 4 is protected from various environmentalelements by the protective covering 10. Protective covering 10 isparticularly adapted to protect the wearer 4 from exposure to the harshroadside environment encountered by individuals under variouscircumstances, such as changing a tire, or applying snow chains to atire under circumstances of an unexpected snowfall, and the like.

The protective covering 10 may be used in various other conditions wherea wearer is exposed to extreme environmental conditions, such as rain,sleet, snow, hail, and the like, wherever a wearer is exposed and taskedfor a short time with work requiring protection from the environment.These and other applications of the protective covering 10 will be clearfrom the following detailed description.

In further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the protective covering 10comprises a substantially cylindrical portion 12 adapted for covering atorso and opposite sleeves 14 and 16. It is preferred that the torsoportion 12 and the sleeves 14 and 16 be produced of one piece, to lessenthe chance of an opening developing at a seam or connecting regionduring strenuous exertion, an opening that would expose the wearer 4 toelements of the environment.

The protective covering 10 can be made of various materials known to theart. Various plastic materials can be easily adapted to produce acovering of this sort, through molding or other known methods ofproduction, for instance, molding. Preferred materials include softlatex materials and vinyl plastics.

The use of vinyl plastics or latex materials allows the production of athin but sufficiently strong protective covering 10. The protectivecovering 10 may then be produced and sold as a folded product, in amanner known to the art for packaging such materials. The final productmay be on the order of a package of six inches square, or less, asdesired, but the choice of materials and manufacturing techniques.

Production of a thin plastic or latex product also reduces materials andkeeps the cost sufficiently low that the protective covering 10 can besold as a disposable unit, perhaps in packages of multiple protectivecoverings 10.

With the use of such materials, the protective covering 10 can readilybe produced as a one piece, or a unitary, article. Further, it isdesirable that the sleeves 14 and 16 terminate in gloves 20 and 22 thatare also of a piece with the sleeves 14 and 16. This similarly preventsthe formation of seams and the like where there is a chance of failureexposing the wearer 4 to the environment.

The torso portion 12 may be provided with adjustment snaps 24, whichpermit the adjustment of the torso portion 12 in length or incircumference, depending on how the snaps are attached, across thewearer's side or between the lower and upper snaps. The snaps allow theprotective covering 10 to be produced in a large size, and thenshortened or reduced around the waste to a individual dimension.

The protective covering may also be provided with a hood 26, which canalso be produced of one piece with the torso region 12. The hood may beprovided with a bill 28, such that when the hood 26 is put up, the bill28 can function as a visor to protect the wearer's vision against sun orfalling precipitation.

The protective covering 10 may comprise reinforced cuffs 30 and 32between the sleeves 14 and 16 and the gloves 20 and 24. The cuffs 30 and32 can be produced of elastic material, which will expand and allow easeof passage of the hands when donning the protective covering 10, butwhich will subsequently contract and compresses the cuffs 30 and 32against a wearer's wrist, thereby forming a further seal againstpenetration to the wearer's person.

When produced for automotive applications, the protective covering 10will advantageously include at least one reflective safety strip 34,which can be applied over the torso portion, the sleeves, or any portionreadily visible to one approaching the wearer 3.

In reference now to FIG. 4, the glove 22 is provided with openings 40permitting freedom of the wearer's fingertips 42 for fine movement. Theopenings 40 may be provided with elastic material 44 located at theknuckle levels of the wearer's hand, as exemplified in the wring fingershown in FIG. 4. As was the case for the cuffs 30 and 32, the fingerelastic material 44 will compress against a wearer's knuckles, therebyforming a seal.

For ease of comfort, reinforcing material 50 may be provided in thepalms of the glove 22.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specificembodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention, as setforth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

1. A protective covering adapted to protect a wearer from exposure tothe environment, said covering comprising a substantially cylindricalportion adapted for covering a torso and opposite sleeves, wherein saidsleeves terminate in gloves, and wherein said gloves have openingspermitting exposure of a wearer's fingertips.
 2. The protective coveringof claim 1, wherein said torso portion and said sleeves are produced ofone piece.
 3. The protective covering of claim 2, wherein said glovesand said sleeves are produced of one piece.
 4. The protective coveringof claim 1, wherein said covering is produced of a material selectedfrom the group of materials consisting of latex and vinyl plastics. 5.The protective covering of claim 4, wherein covering is molded.
 6. Theprotective covering of claim 1, further comprising a hood.
 7. Theprotective covering of claim 6, wherein said hood and said torso portionare produced of one piece.
 8. The protective covering of claim 6,wherein said hood further comprises a bill.
 9. The protective coveringof claim 1, further comprising at least one reflective strip.
 10. Theprotective covering of claim 9, wherein said at least one reflectivestrip is applied over said torso portion.
 11. The protective covering ofclaim 9, wherein said at least one reflective strip is applied over saidsleeves.
 12. The protective covering of claim 1, further comprisingcuffs between said sleeves and said gloves.
 13. The protective coveringof claim 12, wherein said cuffs are produced of elastic material. 14.The protective covering of claim 13, wherein said elastic materialcompresses against a wearer's wrist, thereby forming a seal.
 15. Theprotective covering of claim 1, wherein said torso portion furthercomprises adjustment snaps.
 16. The protective covering of claim 14,wherein said adjustment snaps allow the adjustment of the torso portionin length.
 17. The protective covering of claim 14, wherein saidadjustment snaps allow the adjustment of the torso portion incircumference.
 18. The protective covering of claim 1, furthercomprising elastic material in the finger regions of said gloves. 19.The protective covering of claim 18, wherein said elastic materialcompresses against a wearer's knuckles, thereby forming a seal.
 20. Theprotective covering of claim 1, further comprising reinforcing materialin the palms of said gloves.